OBJECTIVE: Some growth factors may promote tumor growth by affecting tumor angiogenesis. Midkine(MK) are polypeptides that belong to a new family of heparin-binding growth/differentiation factor and has also been reported to be angiogenic. In various tumor tissues, MK was highly expressed between tumor and normal tissues; however, the pattern of MK expression in normal cervix and cervical cancer has not been established. The aim of this study was to determine the MK mRNA expression in cervical cancer. And we questioned whether its expression is related to cancer stages and prognostic factors. METHODS: The cervical and cervical cancer tissues were taken from patients; healthy women(n=15), and the patients with cervical cancer(n=29). The MK mRNA expression was examined by quantative competitive PCR after polymerase chain reaction amplification of reverse transcriptase copies of RNA transcripts(RT-PCR). RESULTS: The cervical cancer expressed higher levels of MK mRNA than normal cervix(p<0.05). The MK mRNA expression was not correlated with the cervical cancer stage and histopathologic type(p>0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggested that increased MK mRNA expression is associated with the development of cervical cancer.
Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Peptides ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger* ; RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

M llerian anomalies have been infrequently encountered clinical problem for the obstetrician gynecologist, incidence was estimated to occur in 1% to 6% of all women. Recently, the use of vaginal ultrasound, MRI and endoscopic techniques have led to more accurate description and classification of m llerian anomalies. This report of a complete uterine septum with duplication of the cervix and a longitudinal vaginal septum with hemivaginal stricture represents a unique case of septate uterus, which to our knowledge previously has not been reported.
Cervix Uteri* ; Classification ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Ultrasonography ; Uterus*

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we evaluated the expression of FAS-associated factor 1 (FAF1) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in normal ovary and ovarian cancer, and also analyzed the correlation between FAF1 and HSP70 in ovarian cancer. METHODS: The patient group consisted of 29 unrelated Korean women diagnosed as ovarian cancers and control samples were obtained from 7 patients who underwent oophorectomy for benign disease of uterus, and normal ovary was confirmed histologically from biopsy. We examined FAF1 and HSP70 expression by western blot analysis and immunohistochemical staining in normal ovary and ovarian cancer. Furthermore, we examined a correlation between FAF1 and HSP70 in ovarian cancer. RESULTS: The expression of FAF1 was lower in ovarian cancer than that in normal ovary (P=0.02), and the expression of HSP70 was increased in ovarian cancer in comparison to that in normal ovary (P=0.03). The expression of FAF1 was decreased in advanced stages (stage III or stage IV) as compared with early stages (stage I or stage II) (P=0.01). The expression of HSP70 was not significantly related with ovarian cancer histology (P=0.10), but the expression of HSP70 was most increased with papillary serous carcinomas and undifferentiated ovarian cancer. The expression of FAF1 was inversely correlated with the expression of HSP70 in ovarian cancer (Spearman correlation coefficience=-0.47). CONCLUSION: We concluded that the expression of FAF1 or HSP70 each seems to have a meaning as a biomarker for early detection of ovarian cancer. The expressions of FAF1 and HSP70 seem to be more valuable in predicting ovarian cancer when used together because of their inverse correlation. This is the first study about the expression of FAF1 in ovarian cancer and the correlation between FAF1 and HSP70 expression in ovarian cancer.
Biopsy ; Blotting, Western ; Female ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins* ; Humans ; Ovarian Neoplasms* ; Ovariectomy ; Ovary ; Uterus

BACKGROUND: EGF and TGF-a are ligands for the EGF-receptor and act as mitogens for a variety of tissues. TGF-a, in particular, has been implicated as an autocrine growth factor for several cancer cell lines. TGF-B exerts an inhibitory effect on the growth of most epithelial cell types, and the loss of responsiveness to this growth inhibition has been implicated in the development of a variety of human cancers. In the present study, we evaluate whether EGF, TGF-a and TGF-B modulate apoptosis and cell cycle progression in cervical cancer cell lines. MATERIALS & METHODS: The effect of EGF, TGF-a and TGF-B on apoptosis and cell cycle such as CaSki and HeLa cell lines was analysed by flow cytometry RESULTS: 1. TGF-B did not induce apoptosis in CaSki and HeLa cell lines. 2. TGF-B as well as EGF, TGF-a, did not affect the process of apoptosis significantly. 3. The time to occur apoptosis was different between CaSki and HeLa cells treated by growth factots. 4. G1 phase was the checkpoint in CaSki and HeLa cells treated with TGF-B. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that TGF-B as well as EGF, TGF-a does not induce apoptosis and cell growth inhibition.
Apoptosis* ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints* ; Cell Cycle* ; Cell Line* ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Epithelial Cells ; Flow Cytometry ; G1 Phase ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Ligands ; Mitogens ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

The complexily in development of the dural sinus may result in many variations. Studies are being done on the variation of the straight sinus for clinical application of neurological diagnosis and operation. However, no data is available on Koreans, which made this study necessary. The present study was made on 50 Korean adult cadavers (average age of 67). The results were as followlng. 1. A bulbous formation of the rostral aspects of the straight sinus was present in 22 cases(44%). 2. Complete double straight sinus was present in 3 cases(6%). 3. Partial septum was observed in 8 cases (16%) with varied position and length. 4. The straight sinus terminated into both transverse sinuses(52%), the left transverse sinus(24%), the confluence of sinuses (18%), and the right transverse sinus(6%). 5. Average length and width of the straight sinus were 48.5mm and 5.9mm, respectively. 6. Nineteen cases(38%) showed no tentorial sinus drainage into the straight sinus on both sides. Number, size and terminationes.
Adult* ; Cadaver ; Diagnosis ; Drainage ; Humans

No abstract available.
Animals ; Calcium* ; Mice* ; Oocytes*

BACKGROUND: Hypotension occurs frequently after epidural anesthesia. Intravenous fluid or vasopressors are among treatment methods to many suggested causes. This study was undertaken retrospectively to determine if the age, weight and height of parturients are related to the local anesthetic dosage in epidural anesthesia for the cesarean section, and if the dosage of local anesthetic influence the change of blood pressure and the requirement of fluid or epherine. METHODS: Sixty-nine parturients were studied by reviewing patients' anesthetic records. During lumbar epidural anesthesia to T4 sensory level, all patients were monitored with mean arterial blood pressure, and prevented from hypotension by administration of Ringer's lactated solution. But if hypotension has been sustained in spite of rapid fluid loading, intermittent ephedrine was injected. We studied the correlation of local anesthetic dosage, decrement of mean blood pressure and total required intravenous fluid volume, and difference of these variables between cases using ephedrine and not using. RESULTS: The volume of local anesthetic to achieve a T4 sensory level was 21.20 3.81ml, which did not correlate with age, weight and height, and did not influence the decrease of mean blood pressure and the volume of administered fluid. But the patients (n=30) who needed ephedrine were adminstered significantly larger dose of the local anesthetic and showed more decrease in the mean blood pressure than those (n=39) who did not. CONCLUSIONS: The dose requirement of local anesthetic during epidural anesthesia for the cesarean section is not determined by the age, weight and height of parturients. But when larger dose of local anesthetic is administered, the patients seem to be more hypotensive and need ephedrine as well as intravenous fluid administration.
Anesthesia, Epidural* ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Cesarean Section* ; Ephedrine* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies

Serum IgE values were determined in 100 patients vith atogic dermatitis in the Department of Dermatology at Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, from Oct. 1, 1978 to Mar. 31, 1980. Mean IgE value of patients is 293. 4 unit/ml which is significantly higher than reference value, and the following results were obtained. 1. The mean IgE value in adults with atopic dermatitis, 339.8 unit/ml, 30 cases: more tian 16 years old) was significantly higher than in children(251. 4 unit /ml, 70 cases). 2. Male patierts showed higher IgE va,lue (mean 324. 5 unit/ml, 62 cases,' than female patients (242.7 unit/ml, 38 cases). 3. No close correlation was demonstrated between IgE values and eosiniphils in blood. 4. Patients with parasitic infesta,tion (5 cases) showed relatively increased IgE values (mean; 116. 2 unit/ml;. 5. Patients wifh bronchial asthma (2 cases) showed high IgE values exceeding 1000 unit/ml, 6. IgE. values roughly correlated with severity of the dermatitis. Four cases with high IgE values exceeding 1000 unit/ml were included in the clinically severe group.
Adult ; Asthma ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Dermatology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Male ; Reference Values

No abstract available.
Arteries* ; Laryngeal Nerves* ; Thyroid Gland*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Capillaries* ; Rats*